Friday, January 19, 2007

HELPING 'UNITED FOR PEACE' GET IT RIGHT!

In that a "lobby" is a group of people trying to bring about certain governmental action or legislation by influencing their representatives to enact a desired change, I agree with one commenting here (thanks Enigma) that the word "Lobby" isn't appropriate in United for Peace's solicitation of what political activists should do the last weekend of this month in Washington, D.C.

In that lobbying has come to assume a negative connotation of monied interests unduly influencing our government often against the best interests of the public, I decided to amend UFP's banner.

I don't have a lot of money, i.e., I can't afford to buy an influence peddler to lobby in my interests. No, instead I did the next best thing: I voiced my opinion along with millions of other Americans this past November '06 in the nationwide election. Granted, I made the mistake of thinking that was the primary means by which our government representatives 'got the message.' And -- it was *free!*, i.e., I didn't have to buy anybody to peddle influence for me.

We know the real primary means our representatives most often get the message of what is best for America is through the whining, wining, dining, and special favors given them by the monied interest lobbyists. Some of the best examples of these special little packages the government gives back to them are hidden at the last minute deeply inside bigger bills late at night, just before being voted upon for passage as most Americans sleep.

Perhaps that explains United for Peace's thinking we need to lobby our senators and congressmen the end of the month in D.C. for what we already told them we wanted two months ago in a national referendum? Some representatives just feel more inclined to listen to 'we the people' if we fly them overseas to play golf at exotic clubs we, ourselves, are not privy to. But I don't think we should have to lobby 'em like that. That's why I thought "demand" sounds more appropriate than UFP's "lobby"; as a kind of reminder of what we already told them in November.

10 comments:

I can't get there, I just don't have enuf money to move and go to DC- but oh how I wish....

and This sign bothers me- the word LOBBY is like a dirty word now...I don't want to "lobby" I want to march....and I definently have a few things to say...but lobby ??? I just picture used car salesmen in knockoff suits eating dinner at Olive Garden...

enigma: you know, I was going to place this little placard at the top of my blog daily until the end of the month, but you've tickled my sensitivity to the word "lobby" as well. It just has such a negative connotation for me too.

I have been writing to the United for Peace- although I am not sure WHO they are, they wrote me back-some woman named Sue, I am unclear if she is with the Demcrats or United for Peace. She was a but snippy , said that I thought the March was deplorable- I set her straight and said NO just the LOBBY word- she then went on to explain to me the definition it means to TALK...yeah, right...she then explained that only three reps are coming- Demo- I voiced to her we should be Inviting ALL - not just Demo....She explained people were being invited to DC to be TRAINED to Lobby ( huh? I think I know how to talk fine...how about you ?) Then she went on to say that she has gotten people to commit to this process. I explained that maybe Marketing People and Focus Groups should not setting the Language- and maybe instead of putting people through Lobby"training ", that they should have just bought a full page add in WAPO inviting reps to the Peace March....from WE THE PEOPLE....I pointed out to her that I have not seen this slogan up on a single BIG Blog= C&L, FDL, Digby, Raw Story, Huffingtons, etc....and that it is the LOBBY WORD that is a Huge problem, that esp after watching a week of Hearings on Ethics and Ney get sentenced this week- the word is associated with Corruption- period....

Okay so as of 12 noon after my last snippy note....nada....so I think I struck home...I also have had no more Updates or requests for money....so ce la vie....

Now Dada I have to say you were the most reponsive citizen and so partiotic that you understood What I was trying to say....So thank you....I love it...and I might just have to steal it...sorry..

Enigma sneaks over in the dead of the night dressed in her Sneaky Black ensamble...and shhhhh...with great stealth take the DEMAND sign....and then on her way out trips and stubbs her toe on the LOBBY sign...she was last heard muttering in Tourettical English..."godammotherfuckinsumbitchbushistoblameforhiseffinlobbywhores"......Sammy Cincos comees out and licks the wounded Intruder.....

Okay I know I have beaten this issue like a dead horse and I know I should just let it go....BUT go to their website- and look- the LOGO is gone- no shit...So I bet I was NOT the only one that complained....I betcha....or who knows maybe it was your logo that shamed them into doing the Right Thing.....hehe...ahh let the Gloating begin...

THE BEGINNING IS NEAR

HUH?

You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, "Look at that, you son of a bitch."

— Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut, People magazine, 8 April 1974.

"Keep in mind that this planet is no model for rational thought, and that what passes for sanity here is sending chills down the spine of the remainder of the universe." E.T. 101

"An Empire’s power depends on its ability to control the cultural stories and language that shape our collective understanding of our world and our choices as a species. Empire stories induce a kind of cultural trance that conditions us to accept the dominator relations of Empire as just and righteous and to dismiss talk of alternatives as naïve, dangerous, or even sinful." ~ David Korten